Loss of mains power

[Kevdell]

Hi all new member here with a problem with my bailey pageant Bordeaux. Currently on site and mains was working went out for couple of hours came back and no mains power, 12v working ok. Pressed test switch and nothing happened. Changed cables and had each tested. Put tester on mains inlet plug to van and only left light of 3 lit up. has anyone any ideas on what problem could be.

Cheers

 

[PaulT]

Have you checked the trip on the EHU bollard?

 

[Kevdell]

Yeah all fine there as running lead with extension lead connected to it from post and that's working fine

 

[Grey13]

Can you explain this Put tester on mains inlet plug to van and only left light of 3 lit up

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Kev,

Sorry to read of your problem.

I don't have enough information to be able to offer a conclusive answer, so we need to dig a little deeper. Because we are talking about mains wiring, we do need to be quite specific about what you have done, so please bear with me. You tell us the left hand light on the tester was displayed when the cables were tested, but there are many different models of tester, so without knowing exactly what each light represents, its unsafe for me to make any assumptions about what its telling us.

From your description, it reads as though something may have caused the caravans RCD (Residual Current Detector) to trip. This will disconnect the mains supply inside the caravan. Have you checked the RCD switch?

If the RCD has tripped, then it means that something has gone faulty inside the caravan. So you need to make sure every item of mains equipment is either unplugged or turned off. Then try resetting the RCD. If it immediately trips again, it means there is a fault in the wiring or an item of fixed permanently connected equipment. Unless you are a competent electrician, Do not attempt a repair, get an electrician to investigate.

If the RCD resets, then in turn switch on each of the appliances and note if any of them cause the RCD to trip. If you find one that causes it to trip, simply leave that appliance switched off or unplugged. Of course you may be able to continue your holiday and simply not use the affected appliance.

Then you have to find out whats gone wrong in the appliance. again I'd suggest only a competent electrician undertakes investigation and repair of the appliance.

 

[Kevdell]

Had tester unit plugged into van got 3 lights on it only 1 lit up as you look at it left hand light was only one on

 

[Kevdell]

The rcd hasn't tripped. have pressed yellow test button and nothing happens. I'm sorry don't no make of test unit used and guy who had it has now gone. All o know is its round with 3 led lights in a row, when plugged onto my lead all 3 lights came on

 

[Raywood]

Sounds like there is a problem with the mains supply or equipment into the caravan. I would try the Prof's suggestion.

 

[Kevdell]

Have done all that. Have been told there is no power getting to the rcd is that possible

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello again Kev,

I'm presently looking at two makes of plug in tester, and the left hand lamp, has different meanings, so I cant draw any safe conclusion about what the single lamp means.

But it does confirm there is a problem.

May I ask you if you are experienced with mains electrical wiring? becasue to investigate any further, is almost certainly going to require exposing connections and wiring, and that has important safety implications. If you are not experienced with electrics then this is a job for a professional.

 

[Kevdell]

Hi prof, I can wire a plug that's about it. Just would like to know what problem could be before i take to my local caravan repair centre as it's just had a full single axle service and passed then 1st time out after this happens 3 days into week away.

 

[Grey13]

The RCD has a button. When the RCD is in the up position, if you press it the RCD must trip, down position. Does it do that?
During all your testing, has anyone at all opened the plug wiring for any reason at all?
Is it possible someone swapped L + N in the plug during all this checking?

 

[Kevdell]

Grey13
Rcd is in up position and doesnt tro when test button is pressed and all plug wiring is ok

 

[Mel]

Sorry Kev if you have tried all this but I am not technical and have to keep fault finding simple.
1. Plug your EHU lead into another bollard. If this works, it's the bollard that's the the problem.
2. Borrow someone else's EHU lead that you know works into your bollard. If this works it's your EHU lead that's the problem.
3. If neither of these things work the problem is in your van, and then I am out of my depth.

Hope you get it sorted
Mel

 

[ProfJohnL]

Sorry Kev if you have tried all this but I am not technical and have to keep fault finding simple.
1. Plug your EHU lead into another bollard. If this works, it's the bollard that's the the problem.
2. Borrow someone else's EHU lead that you know works into your bollard. If this works it's your EHU lead that's the problem.
3. If neither of these things work the problem is in your van, and then I am out of my depth.

Hope you get it sorted
Mel

Hello Mel
Thanks for the suggestion. Its certainly worth a try, but OP did tell us it had been tested, though I'd admitt the report is not entirely clear, so its definitely worth a try.

Kev,
If there is no power getting to the RCD, it will not trip when the test button is pressed, so this ispointing to a problem either at the bollard, or the EHU cable its self or between the caravans EHU connector and the consumer unit.

Of the three only the EHU is really accessible to investigate further, but Ill repeat my caution about not attempting a repair unless you are electrically competent.

 

[Kevdell]

Having had a chat with local bailey dealership here in Brixham was told to check cables from back of mains in let socket to control box which I have done, whilst van is un plugged from mains. Took off big black plug on back off big silver box and 2 of the pins look black (burnt)

 

[Kevdell]

Just of phone to dealer who I got van from and who replaced charging unit for me year ago yesterday booked in on Monday for work to be done under warranty.

Thanks for all your help and advice.

 

[Craigyoung]

Is it just me or does there seem to be a lot of chargers going on the blink at the minute ?! could it be possibly the heat burning them out like what happened to us ?

 

[Hutch]

Craig, both you and myself have had the power unit blow up on us, 12 volt side, but it sound like Kevs plug has come loose and burnt out the connecter. Maybe not fully fitted in. Some of us can sort thing out , unfortunatly others can not and can ask for help on site from folk like us,.

 

[Dustydog]

If the failure was before the caravan RCDs surely the EHU would trip out? What do you think Prof

 

[ProfJohnL]

If the failure was before the caravan RCDs surely the EHU would trip out? What do you think Prof

To explain I need to cover what RCD's do.

Basic electric theory tells us that the current running through any part of a circuit will be the same wherever you measure it. That means the same current should flow through both the Live and neutral conductors of the mains EHU. The RCD only compares the current in both conductors and provided if all is well you should expect no imbalance. If a fault occurs somewhere in the circuit and some of the current is leaked away to earth, (for example like a an electric shock) then the current flowing through the rcd will be imbalanced, and if the imbalance reaches about 30mA for 20ms or more then the RCD will trip disconnecting both L & N conductors.

In the case of the OP, it seems a mains plug has not been fully engaged or the pins were not making a good contact which has caused them to possibly arc and discolour. This is not an earth fault so the current in both L&N will have remianed in balance, so the RCD would not be tripped.

Most caravan RCD's also needs power to be able to work, so if the power has become disconnected (plug falling out) there is zero current in both conductors( still in balance) which the RCD sees as no fault and it could not operate the crowbar any way as there is no power to open the contacts.

 

[xtrailman]

A rcd will only trip on the test button provided its got a supply to it.

 

[xtrailman]

Is it just me or does there seem to be a lot of chargers going on the blink at the minute ?! could it be possibly the heat burning them out like what happened to us ?

Probably, the way Bailey fit their chargers inside the PDU doesn't help, my new Swift has the charger fitted externally and is of a better quality.

You don't actually need the charger on in this hot weather IME, just solar panel will keep the battery topped up, I have just been away for 6 days with out the charger on apart from the night before departure, and the charger didn't have to do a deal to be honest.

I have swift command so can monitor the solar current etc on my App.

 

[Woodentop]

Is it just me or does there seem to be a lot of chargers going on the blink at the minute ?! could it be possibly the heat burning them out like what happened to us ?

It does happen in Baileys because of the way they mount the power box in a position where there is little or no air circulation. On top of that the fan in the PSU either gets blocked up with muck, fails itself, or the temp sensing circuit that switches it fails. Next thing you have a failed PSU.
The answer is to get a couple of very small 12V computer fans (2" will do) and fit one blowing in over the power box case grille on the left side near the top, and the other sucking out over the similar grille on the right of the top panel. The direction of rotation and air flow is embossed on the fan body. Wire them in series so they run slow and thus quiet and you will have no more problems. It is a good idea to wire them through a switch so that you only have them on when EHU is active.

 

[Craigyoung]

Woddentop ,
I too found that in my Bailey's where the charger was the fan assisted charger was no good as it was in a tight spot where air couldn't get to it.